Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University will host the annual fall Concert Choir and Women’s Chorus concert Thursday, Sept. 30, at 7:30 p.m. in McBeth Recital Hall. The concert is open to the public and admission is free.

“Since this concert is early in the semester, one of the purposes is to get the students singing and performing,” said Dr. Gary Gerber, chair of the division of music and director of Concert Choir. “The variety of selections for the concert allow the singers to experience music from different periods in music history.”

“Concert choir is so fun because I get to sing music with so many different people,” said Jessie Sanders, a senior music education major from Booneville, Ark. “So many people singing in one room is very powerful and a great musical experience.”

Concert Choir is open to all Ouachita students, from freshman to seniors and all majors. During the Sept. 30 concert, Concert Choir will perform “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” by John Rutter, “The Heavens are Telling” by Franz Josef Haydn, “Last Words of David” by Randall Thompson, “Rejoice, O Virgin” by Sergei Rachmaninoff, “Ave Verum Corpus” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and “The Awakening” by Joseph M. Martin.

Women’s Chorus is an auditioned chorus open to all female students on campus. During the concert they will perform “I Hear Sweet Music” by Andrea S. Klouse, “Barter” and “Psalm 100” by René Clausen and “Ave Maria” by Eleanor Daley. Women’s Chorus is directed by Glenda Aldridge, adjunct instructor of music.

“We work hard on our blend, and we try to sound like one voice,” said Women’s Chorus member Lynley Vire, a senior musical theatre major from Searcy, Ark. Vire said she especially enjoys the chorus’ blend on the a cappella piece “Ave Maria.”

For more information, contact Gary Gerber at [email protected] or (870) 245-5128.

By Kathryn Kellogg